Juliet is just 13 years old when she goes to be with Romeo.

While Romeo and Juliet's tale is synonymous with young love and star-crossed passion, one of the most intriguing aspects of Shakespeare's play is the remarkably young age he assigns to Juliet. This adds a curious layer to the character of Juliet.

Shakespeare drew inspiration from Arthur Brooke's "The Tragical History of Romeus and Juliet" (1562), an English verse translation of an Italian tale. In Brooke's version, Juliet is portrayed as sixteen, aligning her age with that of Romeo. However, when Shakespeare brought the story to the stage, he made a striking adjustment, depicting Juliet as several years younger.

In Act I, Scene III, Lady Capulet Lady Capulet discloses Juliet is 'not [yet] fourteen.' This Shakespeare's rendition is a departure from Brooke's original characterization. This makes sense insofar as Juliet is a symbol of youthful love. Still, it is disconcerting, especially for today's audiences, because Juliet is only thirteen years old during her blissful night of marriage to Romeo.